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In an interview with Tamedia, Alain Berset talks about the rising health insurance premiums and criticizes the lack of cushioning. The outgoing Federal Council also talks about his future.
At the end of the month, Interior Minister Alain Berset will announce the health insurance premiums for the coming year, and things will probably be uncomfortable for the Swiss population: “The costs are higher than expected. Everyone notices that it doesn’t look good.” The increase in healthcare costs was already stronger than expected last year, but especially this year. Berset does not expect a countertrend next year.
“It is all the more important that we alleviate the burden – by effectively combating costs and reducing premiums.”
The outgoing Federal Council is aware that rising health insurance premiums represent a major burden for parts of the population. Counteracting this is therefore very important: “It is all the more important that we alleviate the burden – by effectively combating costs and reducing premiums.” The premium burden must be reduced.
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Alain Berset has been a member of the Federal Council since 2012.
Keystone/Anthony Anex
However, Alain Berset sees a need for action with the current concept of reducing premiums. There are too big differences between the cantons and this is unsatisfactory.
Alain Berset explains the increase in premiums due to the increasing costs in recent years. In addition, health insurers would have lost around 1.8 billion francs on the financial markets in 2022. Berset does not accept the criticism that as Health Minister he did not manage to curb the cost increases. The average increase during his term in office was lower than before.
Compulsory basic insurance is a central pillar of our social cohesion.
Nathalie Rickli recently called for a complete rethink. However, Berset does not see abolishing compulsory basic insurance as the optimal solution: “Compulsory basic insurance is a central pillar of our social cohesion. Thanks to it, everyone has good access to an excellent healthcare system. If we were to abolish it, we would have two-tier medicine.”
Alain Berset about his personal future
The SP wants to keep Alain Berset’s Federal Council seat. The outgoing magistrate has said he is available to answer questions from anyone interested in the office. That would have helped him a lot back then. However, he only recommends the Interior Ministry to people who don’t want to push the ball calmly: “You need a lot of energy, endurance and courage to swim against the current. That’s not always pleasant. Anyone who wants to have a good time shouldn’t head the Department of the Interior. But it’s very, very exciting.”
Berset himself is looking forward to the free time he can enjoy from January. He doesn’t yet have a plan for what the future will bring. After the strict time – he particularly highlights the years of the corona pandemic – he needs time to breathe deeply.